Page 9 - Southern California Gaming Guide • June 2020

TAgua Caliente Working to Get Fresh Food to Local Families
he Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is proud to partner with Southern California Produce will make sure the food is picked up at
Sunrise Produce agricultural distributor and FIND Food Bank to ensure fresh produce grown in its region is put to good use during the impacts of the global pandemic.
regional farms and delivered to FIND Food Bank, who will make sure the nutritious food is shared with community members and families who need it most.”
“The importance of strong partnerships among leading organizations in our community is key right now as the economic impact of COVID 19 is so widespread and through so many sectors,” said Debbie Espinosa, President & CEO of FIND Food Bank.“It takes all of us using multiple coordinated efforts and strategies to ensure that there is equitable food distribution to all areas of our Desert Community. With both FIND and
Aqua Caliente understanding the scope and scale of our community similarly, our partnership is strong. I’m thankful that will be able to serve so many people in need together.”
Sunrise Produce Company is classified as an “Essential” Food Distributor and has adhered to a disaster plan that the company enacted to support the COVID 19 crisis. The company focuses on
priority distribution to non-profit organizations, which includes school districts, universities, food banks, health care, churches, and food pantries.
The Agua Caliente Tribe was recently approved as a recipient for food boxes through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
service entities throughout the nation due to the pandemic has significantly impacted the agricultural industry.
“As a tribal government, we are eager to step up to become a partner to get fresh food to families throughout Coachella Valley and support our regional agricultural community,” Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said. “Over the next six weeks, we will donate our entire allocation of 2,320 boxes of fruit and vegetables — more than 51,000 pounds of fresh food — to FIND Food Bank so all this fresh food can be shared with their large network of food pantries, homeless shelters and families throughout the Coachella Valley. Sunrise
as part of a federal USDA Assistance Program (CFAP) to help distribute fresh food during the pandemic with the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
The USDA invested $3 billion to create the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to assist local farmers and distributors to move fresh produce, dairy and meat products from farms and regional and local distributors so the food can be consumed rather than go to waste. The closure of many restaurants, hotels, schools and other food
Coronavirus
Food
JUNE 2020
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
PAGE 9
June 2020 Tribes in the News